Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards

RAD bursaries, scholarships and competitions provide opportunities for young people to gain performance experience and to further their study and training.

The Australian Advanced 1 Bursary

Recognising the huge importance of nurturing and providing opportunities for creativity in young dancers, the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary provides an award (up to the value of $7,000) for further training in the RAD method.

Students perform a Classical Variation from the listed repertoire, as well as a Dancers’ Own Variation.  The Dancers’ Own Variation allows candidates to perform their own choreography, or that of a teacher or peer and continues the thread begun with the ‘Dancer’s Own’ element, introduced to the Genée International Ballet Competition in 2012. It also echoes its format with a performance of 1.00–1.30 minutes’ duration.

A choreographic award is also assessed on the following elements:

• Structure
• Dynamics of movement
• Use of space
• Depiction of theme or story
• Use of music and sound.

This provides an important step in the development of young dancers, with the opportunity for candidates to experience the artistic freedom to produce and perform their own creation to their own choice of music. It also promotes and rewards choreography as a distinct part of the creative process.

Entry Requirements and Procedure

Candidates must fulfill the following by close of entries in the Bursary year:

• Be current members of the Royal Academy of Dance
• Be of non-professional status
• Have passed the Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 1 Examination (with Distinction)
• Be 16 years of age or under at 31 December
• Have not taken or entered the Academy’s Advanced 2 Examination.

Semi-Finals

The Semi-Finals are performed in a studio in front of one judge – a current or former professional dancer.  It will consist of a non-syllabus class at Advanced 1 level. The class will last approximately 1¼ hours and will be followed by the performance of Dancer’s Own variation and one Classical Repertoire variation for both female and male students.

The RAD will supply a pianist for the warm-up barre and class at the semi-finals level.  The pianist will then play the CD’s for the Dancers’ Own variation. Candidates must supply their own pianist for the classical repertoire variation.  They may engage the official pianist but must contact them directly to ascertain their availability.

The class will commence with centre practice and will include pointe-work for female students.  Both the class and warm-up barre will be conducted by a guest teacher.  The purpose of the open class is to assess the students’ technical, music and performance abilities in various styles of work, which will be set by the teacher, who will not take any part in the judging.

Each state in Australia holds a Semi-Final and one person from each state is chosen to compete in the Finals.  If there are more than 10 entrants in any one state then 1 candidate is chosen for every 10 students.

An audience is permitted for the Bursary Semi-Finals.  The audience enters after the warm-up barre. The audience can applaud after each variation.

At the conclusion of the semi-final and after the deliberations, all candidates and audience will be asked to return to the studio where the  finalist and winning choreographer will be announced.

Finals

The Finals are performed  in front of a panel of two judges – current or former professional dancers and an audience of teachers, parents, friends and invited guests.

It will consist of a non-syllabus class at Advanced 1 level. The class will last approximately 1¼ hours and will be followed by the performance of Dancer’s Own variation and one Classical Repertoire variation for both female and male students. The RAD will supply a pianist for the warm-up barre, class and classical repertoire variation.  The pianist will play the CD’s for the Dancers’ Own variation.

The class will commence with centre practice and will include pointe-work for female students.  Both the class and warm-up barre will be conducted by a guest teacher.  The purpose of the open class is to assess the students’ technical, music and performance abilities in various styles of work, which will be set by the teacher, who will not take any part in the judging.

The audience enters after the warm-up barre. The audience can applaud after each variation.

Find out more about this year’s Australian Advanced 1 Bursary semi-finals and final dates here

Classical Repertoire Variations

The variation should be taken from a traditional classical 19^th Century production.

Female Variations

Candidates should choose one of the following Repertoire Variations:

Male Variations

Candidates should choose one of the following Repertoire Variations:

Dancer’s Own Variation

The Choreographic Award gives judges a formal opportunity to recognise the best of the Dancer’s Own choreography. The winning choreography will be announced at each Semi-Final.

Guidelines for Choreographers

• Candidates should present a variation (performed in pointe shoes for females) between 1.00 – 1.30 minutes duration choreographed for them by themselves, their teacher or a peer to a piece of music of their choice.
• Dances for female candidates must include pointe work.
• The choreography should not make any reference to characters, storylines or films that are still in copyright e.g. Harry Potter, Billy Elliot, Avatar, etc., unless written proof of permission from the copyright owner of the story or underlying work can be provided in advance.
• Variations must not start in silence.
• Candidates may wear a simple costume and/or use hand-held props if appropriate; however no scenery or masks may be used.
• The candidate’s costume must not make any reference to characters from films or musicals that are still in copyright e.g. Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang etc.

Music – Guidelines for Variations

The music:

• Should be between 1.00 – 1.30 minutes duration.
• Taken from a recording which has been purchased legitimately or recorded for and licensed to the candidate.
• If desired, be an original composition by the student or teacher or the result of collaboration.
• There should be no “internal” cuts to the music as this will likely constitute an infringement of copyright.
• Candidates are required to send ONE copy of their finalised music (with any cuts or fades already edited)one month prior to the Semi-final.  The music may be in either CD or mp3 format ONLY. No other file formats will be accepted.
• Candidates must bring one copy of their finalised music with them on CD, with any cuts or fades already edited. This CD must be in audio CD format (i.e. it must be playable on a standard CD player).

Things to think about:

• How does your music end? Remember it is easy to fade out music, but you cannot fade yourself out from the stage so easily!
• You may choose any kind of music; however, if your music contains lyrics, these must not include any offensive material (i.e. sexist, racist or in other ways defamatory).

Music Information Form
The Music Information Form, which contains details of the music used for the variation (for copyright and programming purposes), should be fully completed and returned with the entry form.  Please make sure the title of the piece is listed.

Dress Code

Class – The Academy’s recommended Vocational Graded Examination uniform. For class, females may wear soft pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are required for the pointe work section of the class and for the variations.

Dancer’s Own Variation – Candidates may wear a simple costume and/or use hand-held props if appropriate; however no scenery or masks may be used. The candidate’s costume must not make any reference to characters from films or musicals that are still in copyright.

Classical Repertoire Variations – The costume is the candidates’ choice, but should be appropriate to the variation and a head-dress may be worn; alternatively a leotard with tutu or appropriate skirt of any matching colour may be worn for females.

Outcomes and Awards

• The Judging Panel will assess the class and the variations. The decision of the Judging Panel is final.
• The Bursary is held annually and has a value up to $7,000. The Bursary is to be used to further the winner’s training in the RAD method. Payment of the Bursary can be offset against existing tuition fees where the winner may be studying, or against material/equipment needed for the winner to continue their training. In all cases evidence of prior payment or purchases or provision of tuition must be forwarded.
• The Bursary will normally be awarded to a single candidate. The Academy reserves the right to withhold the Bursary if the required standard is not met.
• The Bursary winner must commence further study within 12 months of the date of the award. This time limit can only be extended at the Academy’s discretion, and any funds not used within two years of the date of the Award will be forfeited.
• Students who do not follow these rules and regulations of entry may be disqualified.
• The Academy reserves the right to alter the Bursary Rules and Conditions of Entry at any time and without prior notice.

Criteria for Judging – Class and Variations

Candidates will be judged throughout the Class and Variations on their ability to show the following interrelated elements, all of which make up the complete dancer:

Technique incorporating correct posture and weight placement, co-ordination, control, line, spatial awareness and dynamic values.

In pointe work, female students will be judged on their ability to perform a varied range of movements with strength and ease.

In allegro, male students will be judged on their ability to perform varied levels of elevation with agility and ease.

Music incorporating correct timing, rhythm, response to phrasing, dynamics and atmosphere.

Performance incorporating expression, interpretation, communication and projection.

Criteria for Judging – Dancer’s Own Choreographic Award

The recipient of this award is the choreographer who, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the highest standard of choreography within the variation.

The choreography will be assessed on the following elements:

• Structure
• Dynamics of movement
• Use of space
• Depiction of theme or story
• Use of music/sound.

Application and Fee

• All entries must be made on the official application form accompanied by a copy of the student’s RAD Advanced 1 Examination result form.
• The fee of $260 must be sent with the application form. The closing date is Friday 28 September.
• All application forms must be received by the closing date.
• A short biography, of not more than 60 words, must be sent with the application form. This may be used in the programme and edited by the Academy if necessary. Please include details of specific teachers or coaches who have been influential in your training if you feel this is appropriate to your biography.
• Students may re-apply for the Bursary as many times as they wish, provided the entry requirements are met.

Forms

• Download the entry form here.
• Download the dancers’ own music information form here.
• Download the bursary outline form here.

Other Bursaries

Information on other bursaries is available from the RAD headquarters site.